A 38-year-old Minot man accused of running out of the Ward County Courthouse on March 15 after a judge revoked his probation and ordered him to serve six months in jail was finally arrested on Monday.

John Daniel Rude is now facing a Class C felony escape charge and up to five years in jail.

“I wasn’t handcuffed or nothing,” Rude told Judge Todd Cresap.

Cresap ordered that Rude immediately begin serving the six-month sentence that Judge Stacy Louser had handed down.

Rude asked if he can have work release, since he now has a full-time job. Cresap said that will be up to the sheriff, since the work release program is through the sheriff’s office.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Rude left the courtroom on March 15 with a sheriff’s deputy, who allowed Rude to make a phone call on his mother’s cell phone. Rude was wandering around the first floor of the courthouse and the deputy ordered him to stay sitting down. At 4:30 p.m., when it was time to lock the courthouse door, one officer walked to the security desk to get a key to lock the door. While the officer was gone, Rude got out of his chair and ran out the front door. He was pursued by two officers, but they were not able to catch him.

The warrant for his arrest was served Monday.

Judge Cresap sent a preliminary hearing date on the escape charge for Oct. 18.